For the record..I don't use drugs. I was wondering though if health care workers get tested? I was surprised recently to find out that teachers don't get drug tested. I don't know why I was surprised... Read More

My employer in my previous life (a paint manufacturer) instituted mandatory random drug testing for all its employees. We never did figure out why. The other problem was that instead of UA, they tested hair samples, so if you used something 2 months ago you could still be caught. They also stressed that you'd better have a prescription for any meds found, i.e., you couldn't take one of your wife's vicodin for a toothache etc.

I thought that was digging into peoples personal behavior for no good reason.

Actually once anything is in hair it stays there. That means depending on how long your hair is they can find stuff you did years ago. Your hair only grows about 1/4 to 1/3 and inch a month.

Jan 13, '08

Joined: Dec '06; Posts: 2,135; Likes: 3,205

When they have you pee in a cup before say nursing school are they just looking for illegal drugs?! Do things like Motrin and cough syrup show up?! Do they tell you exactly what they are looking for?! I don't mind them looking for illegal drugs, but aspirin and Midol seems to be an invasion of my privacy.

This is a bit off topic, but when you need blood work for nursing school for TB, etc. does it also show your cholesterol, white blood count, etc. or are they only allowed very specific info?! I'd really like them to be on a need to know basis.